Method and device for pulling electrodes



March 23, 1954 H, WElNMAN 2,673,063

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PULLING ELECTRODES Filed DGO, S 1949 MIMI /9 Z0 I 5 l /Z /i r l 79 INVEN TOR.

Patented Mar. 23, 1954 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PULLING ELECTRODES Harry Weinman, Detroit, Mich. Application December 6, 1949, Serial No. 131,306 7 Claims. (Cl. 254--22) The present invention relates to a pry type electrode puller which is adapted for removing a welding electrode from a tapered seat in a spot welding machine.

In conventional spot Vwelding practice, a hollow water cooled welding tip or electrode is frequently employed having a tapered stem adapted to fit snugly in a correspondingly tapered seat providedin an electrode holder. In order to prevent undesirable leakage of cooling water circulating within the hollow interior of the electrode and to assure optimum electrical contact between the holder and electrode whereby the latter is energized, it is of course important that the juxtaposed tapered portions ofthe electrode and the seat therefor comprise smooth closely fitting mating surfaces. Accordingly, once the electrode is rmly wedged into the seat of the holder, difficulty is experienced in separating the electrode from the holder without damaging either member or scoring or warp-,1,

ing their mating tapered surfaces. During an ordinary spot welding operation, two electrodes are forceably brought together in pairs against the work to be welded therebetween and are thus driven forcefully into their tapered seats in the holders, rendering removal of the worn electrode extremely diiiicult after usage.

After an electrode is partially worn to the extent that it is no longer serviceable for a particular operation, it is frequently desirable to transferthe partially worn electrode to another machine where further use of the electrode is feasible. Prior to the present invention, it has commonly been the practice in removing such electrodes to twist the same with a pipe wrench or similar tool. Inasmuch as both the electrode and holder are usually formed from copper to assure good electrical conductivity and are accordingly comparatively soft, such treatment often scores or warps the mating tapered surfacesor causes a break in the wall of the hollow electrode. As a result, the partially worn electrode cannot be used in other operations and the scored seat must be replaced, adding appreciably to operating costs.

The paired electrodes or welding tips are generally spaced relatively close together even in the open or inoperative position of the welding machine. An electrode puller has thus been sought which could quickly and easily be applied to one of the electrodes Without being obstructed by the other. Preferably such a tool will operate to pull the electrode from its seat in substantially a ,straight line so that twisting and consequent distortion of the electrode or seat is avoided.

Therefore, it is a ent invention to provide an efficient welding electrode puller which can quickly and easily be applied in a small working space, and which will operate to extract an electrode in a substantially straight line without twisting the latter or scoring or warping the mating tapered surfaces of the electrode and seat in the holder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a welding electrode puller having a curved gripping or prying portion adapted to conform substantially to an ference of the electrode to utilizing a maximum area of tions and preventing breakthrough of the electrode sidewalls during an extraction operation.

A further object of the present invention is to Another object is to provide an improved simple, efficient and economically employed method and device for pulling welding electrodes, which may be readily employed with a minimum of skill or Vtraining on the part of the operator.

Another and more specific object is to provide an improved electrode puller of the foregoing character comprising a pry and a guide member adapted to engage an electrode therebetween in a prying action. The guide is constructed to abut the electrode holder solidly adjacent the electrode during a prying operation so as to transmit the prying force directly to the holder. The pry is fulcrumed on the guide for swinging into prying engagement with the electrode to slide the latter along the guide in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the electrode. Thus the guide serves to counterbalance the force of the pry directed transversely against the electrode so that the latter is loosened from its seat in the holder by axial movement without cocking or twisting.

In a preferred construction, the pry comprises a lever of convenient length having a prying head approximately the width of the electrode to to be pulled. The guide member is U-shaped, having paired arms extending from a common base and spaced by the head to which they are pivotally connected in a manner to permit the electrode to be freely inserted between said base and prying end for an extraction operation.

primary object of the presarc on the circuml Also in a preferred construction, the inner surface of the base of the U-shaped guide is shaped to conform to the sidewall of the electrode and comprises a smooth surface to facilitate sliding of the electrode thereon during the prying operation. For use with hollow elec trodes, the prying end preferably comprises a sharp edge conforming substantially to the sidewall of they electrode, but having lateral portions adapted' to embed' generally tangentially into the electrode in a prying operation before the central portion of the prying edge engagesl the electrode. Thus optimum prying engagement with the electrode is assured with minimum danger of piercing the electrode sidewalls by radial penetration by the prying edge.

Extending handleward from the prying edge is a channel or groove provided in the portion of the head which finally confronts the electrode upon completion of a prying operation and shaped; to conform'- substantially to the sidewall of the electrode. frombet-ween the head and guide is facilitated after thev electrode is loosened from its holder.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following, description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein lil-:eA reference characters designate corresponding parts inthe several views.

In` the drawings:

lig'.` 1; is.. a fragmentary side elevation partial'- ly in vertical mid-section, illustrating an electrode seated; in its holder and operatively engaged byfany electrode puller embodying the present, invention, the puller being shown in the initial operating; position as it is placed over the electrode;

Fig. 2 is a. view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the various parts in their respective positions when, the electrode puller has been operated to loosen-,the electrode from its seated position in the. holder.

Fig. 3 israz bottom View of the electrode puller shown inr Fig. 2, the loosened electrode being shownpin phantom.

Eig.'V 4i is; a. plan view of the electrode puller showniirn Fig. 2, the electrode and welding. apparatus being shown in phantom.

ItfV is to be understood that the invention is not: limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illus-- tratedfin the accompanying drawings, since it is: capable of. other embodiments and ofv being practiced` or carried out in various ways. it is to be understoodthat the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of' description. and not of limitation.

Referring to the drawings, It designates a hollowrelectrode holder of va conventional spot weldingmachine. Detachably screw-threaded to the holder Iii is an annular adapter II having a downwardly tapered inner electrode seating surfacet. I2: and. a flatv annular upper surface I2a in-I accordance with usual construction. A hollow generally cylindrical welding electrode I3 isv disp'osed'inv the adapter II, the lower portionof the electrode Etf being tapered to match the taperon the inner surface I2 of the adapter II.

Arr inlettube IA extending upward through the '.1

holder' I0 terminates below the adapter IIv coaxially therewith for the purpose of' directing a jet of water or other fluid coolant' into the interior of? the electrode It;v to prevent overheating thereof; After the coolant has passed into Thus removal of the latter` the electrode I3 and has absorbed heat therefrom, it is returned through the hollow interior I5 of the holder It to a drain or cooling tank (not shown). The structure thus far described is conventional and is accordingly not discussed in detail herein except as it is concerned with the operation of the present invention embodied in the electrode puller described below.

The electrode puller consists of aprying head It, a U-shaped' guide member I"I having flat top and bottom portions, and a detachable handle t3. The head I6 in the present instance is provided at one end with a screw threaded opening Iier which accommodates a screw threaded stud 2t of the handle I8, permitting the latter to be readily fitted to prying heads of different sizes. Although the handle I8 may be of any convenient length, an overall length of approximately eighteenl inches for the tool has proved satisfactory in tests conducted using the electrode puller with different welding machines' and electrodes of varioussizes.

The forward portion of the head It oppositer the opening I9 has a transverse width approxi-- mately equal-to the diameter of the electrode-I3 and has inwardly curved top and bottom por-- tions which terminate in a sharp transverse prying edge 21 curved:` to conform substantially to the outer untapered' cylindrical' sidewall of the'vv electrodeV I3, Figs. 3' and 4. The top forwardA portion of the head' It adjacent the-curvedv prying edge 2l is formed to provide a flat ledge or prying shoulder 22,.Fig. 4, which extendsforward substantially in theplane ofthe transverses and.` longitudinal axes of the headv Itv to meet-the up wardly curved bottom of the forward end` ofthe head It along the edgeZI. The ledge 22 ser-vesl as a flat shoulder or abutment adapted to pry upward against the material of the electrode I3 when the edge 2'I is embedded thereinto duringY operation as discussed below. As indicated in Fig. e, the edge 2l is curved so that the lateral portions thereof will cut generally tangentially into the adjacent sides of the electrode during operation. In consequence a maximum area of the shoulder 22 will underlie the material ofthe electrode sidewall for upward prying thereonv with a maximum of radial' penetration thereof;

Extending handleward and downward from i the edge ZI- i's a cylindrical groove or channel 23';

formed symmetrically with respect to the vertical median plane of the head I6 in the upwardly curved forward bottom portion thereof, Fig. 3. Since inthe present` instance the'cylin-V drical surface ofthe groove 23` intersects thev plane ledge or surface 22` to form the curved prying edgeZI, the'radius of curvature of theY groove 23l is only slightly le'ssthan the cylindrical'y radius of the electrodel I3, so that the groove 23" conforms substantially to `thecylindrical contour of the electrode I3l andv facilitates removal' ofthe latter from the toolY upon completion of' an extraction operationvas explained' below.

The armsof! the U-shaped' guide Il are spacedbythe forward portion ofV thefhead pivctally connected thereto by a transverseipinJ extending through the head dat aY location spaced" rearward" of the central portion of 'the' edge ift a short' distance approximating the cy'- lindrical radius of the electrode for -which-the tool is adapted; The approximate lower third`- offtheinner curvature ofthe U-shapedguidev Iivv confronting the edge 2t comprises a smooth cy-vlindrical guidel surface E5 conforming substan'- tiallyi to the,` curvature of the' electrode I3and1 it and are;

serving as a slideway therefor during an extraction operation. In the horizontal position of the guide I1, the cylindrical surface 25 extends vertically parallel to the longitudinal axis of the electrode I3 and is spaced sufficiently from the edge 2| to permit free passage of the electrode I3 between the edge 2| and surface 25 when the longitudinal axis of the head I6 is inclined approximately 450 to the surface 25 as shown in Fig. 1. In this position, the flat bottom surface of guide Il may be placed solidly on the flat upper surface of the adapter II around the seated electrode I3 with the latter projecting upward between the cylindrical surface 25 and curved edge 2|. Above the cylindrical surface 25, the inner curvature of the guide I'I inclines outward at 25a` in order to facilitate removal of the electrode from the tool after the electrode is loosened from its seat I2.

It is apparent from the foregoing that as the handle I8 is swung downward in a prying action about the pivot 24, the edge 2| will swing upward and forward against the adjacent side of the electrode I3, drawing the guide surface 25 firmly against the electrode in opposition to the horizontal thrust of the edge 2|. The guide I'I and head I6 are preferably dimensioned so that the lateral portions of the edge 2| will first engage the electrode in a prying action at a level approximately opposite the lowerinost level of the surface 25 while the handle I3 is still appreciably inclined to the horizontal, as indicated in Fig. 1. Upon continued downward swinging of the handle I 8, the edge 2| will be forced forward against the sidewall of the electrode therein. Simultaneously of course the vertical edge 25 of the yoke Il will be drawn against the electrode sidewall with an oppositely directed force of exactly equal magnitude, which counterbalances the forward thrust of the edge 2| and prevents cooking or warping of the electrode. As the edge 2| digs into the electrode I3, it also swings upward, lifting the electrode on the ledge or shoulder 22, Fig. 2, and causing the electrode to slide vertically upward along the guide surface 25.

It is also to be observed from Fig. 1 that the curved forward bottom portion of the head I6 does not rest upon the top surface of the adapter even at the start of the prying operation. As the latter proceeds, the aforesaid forward bottom edge is raised still further from the adapter II, Fig. 2. Thus the entire downward force exerted on the adapter II during upward prying or extraction of the electrode is applied through the body of the guide Ill. Since the latter rests solidly and fiatly on the adapter l I throughout the extraction operation, no force is applied tending to twist or cock the electrode and the latter is lifted directly axially from its seat I2.

After the electrode I3 is loosened in the seat I2, the handle I8 moving downward past the horizontal swings the prying edge 2| upward out of engagement with the electrode I3, moving the groove 23 into a loose contact with the electrode I3. It is to be noted in this connection that as the edge 2| digs into the electrode sidewall, a radially extending flare or burr will be formed on the electrode adjacent the region of penetration. This burr will of course not interfere with subsequent use of the electrode I3 since it is above the seat I2, although it sometimes interferes with removal of the electrode from the tool. In order to minimize this difficulty, the groove 23 in combination with the inclined surface 25a of the guide I'I permits the loosened electrode to be I3 and embedded tilted away from the edge 2| and slid either up-i ward or downward from the tool in a direction generally parallel to the incline 25a. Thus stubborn lodging of the electrode between the head I6 and yoke I'I is prevented.

By the foregoing a simple and eflicient welding electrode puller has been disclosed which may be employed substantially as described with electrodes disposed at any operating position, as for example either horizontal or inverted. By virtue of the handle I8 prying from the side of the electrode, the tool may be employed where only a slight separation is afforded between opposing electrodes. Also by use of the present invention, partially worn electrodes may be removed without damage and used again in different operations, eifecting appreciable savings in `welding costs.

Previous methods of removing electrodes have not only ruined a great many electrodes, but have scored or distorted the tapered walls of many adapters. Such distortion impairs the electrical contact between the seat I2 and electrode I3 and permits leakage of the coolant even when a new electrode is seated within the distorted seat I2. Thus installation of a new adapter is necessitated.

In the claims:

l. In a tool for prying a welding electrode from its seated engagement with an electrode holder, a support having a guide surface and being adapted to abut the holder with the guide surface engaging the electrode in axially sliding relation, and a lever having a sharp transverse prying edge and being pivoted on the support to swing the prying edge forcefully away from the holder and toward the guide surface, the lateral portions of the prying edge projecting toward the guide surface to cutinto the electrode before the central portion of the prying edge engages the electrode in a prying operation.

2. In a tool for prying a cylindrical type welding electrode from its seated engagement with an electrode holder, a guide member having a guide surface and being adapted to abut the 5 holder with the guide surface engaging the electrode in sliding relation, and a swinging lever having a sharp prying edge transversely curved to conform substantially to the surface of the electrode and adapted to embed thereinto during the prying operation, said lever being pivcted to swing the prying edge away from the holder and forcefully toward the guide surface in a prying operation, the portion of the lever confronting the guide surface upon completion of the prying operation being grooved to conform substantially to the contour of the electrode.

3. In a tool for prying a welding electrode from its seated engagement with an electrode holder, a support having a guide surface for the electrode, said support being adapted to seat against the holder with the guide surface engaging one side of the electrode in axially sliding relation during the prying operation, a swinging pry having a sharp prying edge engageable with the electrode to cut thereinto during said prying operation, said pry being pivoted on said support to swing said edge toward the side of said electrode opposite said one side and outward from said holder in said prying operation.

4. In a tool for prying a welding electrode from its seated engagement with an electrode holder, a swinging pry having a sharp prying edge engageable with the electrode to cut thereinto dur- ,ing a prying operation, a support adapted to seat against said' holder andV having a fulcrum portionf onv which said pryf is pivotal to pry said ele'etrod'e from' theholder, saidl support Aalso having a smooth guide' surface slidably engageable with said electrode in supporting relation in opposition to said pry during the prying operation, sa'idg'udel surface comprising an inner portion extending axially of said electrode and an outer portion diverging from the axis of the electrode.

5'. In a tool for prying a welding electrode from itsy seated engagement',l with an electrode holder, az support adapted to seat against the holder duringa prying operation, guide means on the support engagea-ble with an axial side of the electrode'in supporting relation upon movement of thejelectrode relative tothe support during a prying operation, and a pry pivotally engaged with the support to swing into prying engagement' with theV electrode in opposition to said guide means', the pry having a sharp transverse prying edge shaped to conform substantially to the'engage'd surface of the electrode and adapted to embed thereinto during the prying operation.

6*; Thek method' of prying a welding electrode from its seated engagement with its holder compri'singV the stepsof-A applying force to saidl elec"` trede at one side thereofv to grip thex latter and continuing the saine orceto pry the electrode outward from its holder, and simultaneously supporting said electrode in opposition to the grippingI and pryingforce;

7i The method oi prying a from its seated engagement with its holder comprising the steps of applying force to said electrode at one side thereof to undercut and grip the sidewall or" the electrode and continuing the saine force to pry the electrode outward from its holder, and simultaneously supporting said electrode in opposition to the gripping and pry ing force.

HARRY WEINMAN.

References Cited in' the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Namev Date' 372,274 Oliver Oct. 25, 1887V 125,923 Beernan Apr. 21, 1903 21,245,838 Taylor June 17, 1941 welding electrode- 

